Cricket

New Zealand 277 England 68-0: Sidebottom rises above the clouds to leave England in ascendancy

There are occasions when Test cricket appears to do little to promote itself and yesterday was one of them. Hardly a drop of rain fell on the famous old ground but only 55.4 of the scheduled 98.5 overs were completed as bad light ruined the second day of the first Test. Impenetrable cloud cover forced the players from the field on five occasions, much to the frustration of a sizeable and patient crowd.

Inside Cricket

Surrey 278 & 151-7 Hampshire 227: Hampshire rally after Tremlett is laid low

Saturday, 17 May 2008

Everything seemed to be stacking up against Hampshire yesterday when their first innings ended abruptly, still 51 runs shy of Surrey's first innings total. Their England fast bowler Chris Tremlett was afflicted by back spasms which prevented him from batting but, more significantly, meant he could not bowl.

Flintoff likely to miss entire series against New Zealand

Saturday, 17 May 2008

Andrew Flintoff now looks almost certain to play no part in England's Test series against New Zealand but Lancashire believe prompt action by their medical staff may have saved his summer by stopping his side strain turning into a more serious injury.

How the batsman's rod caused Martin-Jenkins to split his sides

Saturday, 17 May 2008

The veteran cricket commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins "corpsed" live on air yesterday after he referred to a batsman's "rod" on Radio 4's Test Match Special (TMS).

Lancashire 113 & 233 Notts 202 & 147-3: Voges sees off Lancashire in rapid fashion

Saturday, 17 May 2008

Much as Nottinghamshire had cause to feel pleased with themselves after seeing off Lancashire in under seven sessions, it would have been difficult even for them not to have some sympathy for the plight of their opponents.

Strauss and Cook's hard graft lifts the gloom

Saturday, 17 May 2008

There was a distinct absence of dancing in the streets when Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook were reinstated as England's opening batsmen. Good players, sound individual Test records but as a first-wicket partnership they had been notably inauspicious. On the list of English double acts they were mixing with Cannon and Ball not Morecambe and Wise.

Tea Report: Surrey 278 & 127-7; Hampshire 227-9 (inns closed)

Friday, 16 May 2008

Hampshire’s dismay at the loss of England fast bowler Chris Tremlett from their attack was rapidly transformed to joy as the remaining bowlers came up with the ideal response.

Tea Report: New Zealand 277 v England 26 for 0 (12 overs)

Friday, 16 May 2008

Having spent the first day wicketless and forlornly searching for the right line Ryan Sidebottom found precisely what he was looking for on the second day.

Flintoff set to miss entire New Zealand visit

Friday, 16 May 2008

New Zealand 208-6 v England: McCullum fireworks add to his star status

Friday, 16 May 2008

International cricket has lost too many of its superstars in the last 18 months but in Brendon McCullum New Zealand appear to have unearthed a new one. Shane Warne, Brian Lara, Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath and Inzamam-ul-Haq have all recently waved goodbye leaving the stage open for bright new talent to come through, and McCullum has the potential to light up Test, one-day and Twenty20 arenas for many years to come.

Lunch Report: New Zealand 260-8 (82 overs) v England

Friday, 16 May 2008

It is usually supposed that if you win the toss and insert the opposition in a Test match you should bowl them out for 250. Any more than 280 and you have either bowled badly or the captain made the wrong decision.

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